I danced for 16 years. I did tap, ballet, pointe (yes, there's a difference), hip hop, jazz, and even dabbled in contemporary once I was in college. On top of that, I was a competition dancer. Dance was my life for those 16 years of my life.
After school ended, I went right to dance class. I asked for dance wear and shoes for Christmas. But now that I'm a college student, all of that has changed. If you're a retired dancer like myself, you certainly understand these 11 things.
1. You get tired of hearing "Wait, YOU danced?"
Yes, I did more dance than you can imagine. And I was good too
2. And you're definitely over answering "Why didn't you major in dance?
I love dance, but it's not the career path for me, I do have other interests
3. You secretly watch dance moms to get your dance fix
Even though it is nothing like your dance experience, because you didn't dance on a reality tv show
4. You visit your old studio every chance you get
You have three homes: home, college, and the studio
5. You have no idea what to do with all your dance shoes and leotards
But you absolutely cannot throw away any of it, and your 4-year-old cousin has a lot of growing to do before she can fit in any of it
6. And you definitely cannot throw out your costumes
They have way too many memories attached to them, and who knows when you'll need one for a Halloween costume
7. You still have your trophies and medals on display
They represent all your hard work and accomplishments, that 2nd place award for your solo at Nationals was not easy to accomplish
8. You feel weird knowing none of the kids in the studio
And you don't introduce yourself because that's weird and they don't need to know who you are
9. You hate that you aren't as flexible as you used to be
No more splits or straddles for you
10. And you're not in the same physical shape either
Your abs had abs when you danced, now your abs are non existent and can't do 78 push ups anymore
11. You would give anything to go back and get on stage just one more time
Being on stage dancing your heart out is a feeling like no other; it is the ultimate high
Retiring sucks.
